Score 81/100 on this list's criteria · Order: Glazed or old-fashioned · $1.25–2.50
24-hour shop with cheap, consistent donuts. Not the best in the city, but the best at 3 AM.
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Kearny Mesa · $1.25–2.50 · Ranked in 1 list
Last updated
Donut Star is a Kearny Mesa spot ranked #8 of 8 in our Best Donuts in San Diego list, scoring 81/100 in our Best Donuts in San Diego. Order the glazed or old-fashioned. 24-hour shop with cheap, consistent donuts. Not the best in the city, but the best at 3 AM.
Donut Star is in Kearny Mesa, San Diego. Give yourself a few extra minutes for parking on weekends — Kearny Mesa fills up early on sunny days.
Explore Kearny MesaOn our Best Donuts in San Diego list, Donut Star lands at #8 of 8, just behind Mochinut (84/100). Devil's Dozen holds #1 with 92/100, so the gap is 11 points.
See the full Best Donuts in San Diego rankingDonut Star scores 81/100 against a best donuts in san diego field that averages 86.8, running from 81 at the bottom to 92 at the top. That is 5.8 points below the category average, though it still finishes ahead of 0 of the 7 other places we scored. It lands 8th of 8, and the category leader is 11 points clear.
Judged criterion by criterion, Donut Star separates itself most on value (95/100 versus a 85.6 category average). Its softest showing is variety at 75, 11.9 points under the field. Those two numbers are the honest summary: this is a place you pick for value, not for a clean sweep of every category.
| Criterion | Donut Star | Category avg. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texture & Flavor | 80 | 87.8 | -7.8 |
| Freshness | 82 | 86 | -4 |
| Variety | 75 | 86.9 | -11.9 |
| Value | 95 | 85.6 | +9.4 |
| Atmosphere | 78 | 85.4 | -7.4 |
Scores are Sandi Spots editorial judgments, compared against every other place we ranked in best donuts in san diego.
Kearny Mesa is dense enough that Donut Star rarely needs to be a standalone trip. We have scored at least six other ranked spots in the same neighborhood, so it is easy to stack a visit with Hidden Fish (92/100 in our best sushi in san diego list) or K Sandwiches (92/100) and turn one stop into an afternoon.
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Worth it for the right craving, not a destination trip.
Donut Star scores 81/100 in our Best Donuts in San Diego list (#8 of 8). It is strongest on value (95) and freshness (82). 24-hour shop with cheap, consistent donuts. Not the best in the city, but the best at 3 AM.
Skip it if variety matters most to you — that is its weakest category (75/100).
Donut Star is a good fit for donuts. Because it ranks #8 on our best donuts in san diego list, it makes the most sense to pair it with nearby stops in Kearny Mesa rather than build a day around a long cross-town drive. Check live hours and availability before leaving, especially for a weekend visit.
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Score 81/100 on this list's criteria · Order: Glazed or old-fashioned · $1.25–2.50
24-hour shop with cheap, consistent donuts. Not the best in the city, but the best at 3 AM.
Scored with our ranking methodology — donuts.
Published by the Sandi Spots Editorial team at Sleep Coast LLC. Guides combine local perspective and source research. Check the individual guide for firsthand observations and follow official links to confirm current details.